Grace period for Auckland's SuperGold card users

About 90,000 Auckland pensioners have failed to meet today's deadline to ensure they can still get free off-peak public transport.

The city has 180,000 people with a SuperGold card entitling them to a range of discounts, but under a new government rule they have to sign up to the AT HOP card if they want to continue getting free bus, train and ferry rides.

Seniors Minister Maggie Barry said the change was always going to be tricky to manage, but she understood there was a grace period that would relieve some of the pressure.

"I don't want seniors to feel anxious or concerned about this but I think that when the system is up and running, as it has been in Invercargill and in Otago, people will find it's actually much more convenient and easy for them to use."